Gut Reactions (post-gig memories and other trips): Seb Lowe, La Belle Angele, Edinburgh. Wednesday 15th April, 2026

After a pleasant drive to Edinburgh, arriving at 6.30 pm for a 7pm doors, I park at the Pleasance and head to the venue. I'm fifth in the queue, until security points out to the person at the front that the queue is actually up the steps, past The Mash House (who also have a gig on). It's not just up the steps. It's around the block, too. I end up on Chambers Street, parallel to the venue, within sight of the National Museum of Scotland. I guess I'll not be on the barrier tonight.

And I wasn't. Lots of tall people down the front, so no videos either.

First up is Kate Couriel (Seb Lowe's violinist and backing singer). This is her very first live performance as a solo artist. She's accompanied by Rory (?) from the band on keyboards. Her music is very like Seb Lowe's: lyrically dense, full of drama and opinion. And a bit samey. It doesn't do her voice justice. I think it would have sounded better with full orchestration, like on Raye's recent album, rather than with this pared-down approach of keyboards and violin. It's a short set, but welcome.

The Rooks are a Glasgow band who possess a swagger reminiscent of Oasis. Which is just as well because their singer sounds awfully like Liam, chewing his lyrics (confusion becomes 'con-few-shei-own'). Despite their confidence/arrogance, they actually sound good. I'd be happy to see them again, maybe with fewer tall people in front so I can see the singer, who's a little on the short side. Cool shades, though.

By the time Seb Lowe takes to the stage, the crowd is hot and sweaty. More youths have pushed forward, shifting the height dynamic, but I still can't see the stage clearly. I refuse to lift my phone above my head to record any of the performances, preferring to snatch the odd photo when I can. The Aberdeen setlist missed out a couple of my favourites, so I'm pleased when they slip in Mr & Mrs Human Race.

The first three songs flow into one another without any chat. I guess they're aiming to cram as much as possible into their hour-long set, favouring the new songs.

Seb likes to come down to the front of the crowd. Only, he is restricted by his microphone cable, relying on a techie to unhook the cord whenever it gets tangled. When Katie comes down, she's so small, no one except those at the front can see her.

There's no Hot To Go moment this time, but the crowd amazes me, being able to sing all those lyrics along with Seb. They are loud, too; the largely young and female audience nearly busts my eardrums, even with earplugs in, as they scream their appreciation between songs. It was nice having nearly six hundred people singing, "We all love dogs, we all hate cats", at the top of their voices.

I don't wait afterwards to meet the band. Let the young fans have their moment. I do keep an eye out for setlists being handed to fans and manage to persuade one youngster to let me photograph hers. As always, thank you for doing so.